Back in Germany we used two twin drum Tost winches on our field and
launched all day long back to back, as long as there were planes
needing to be launched. Wires were retrieved with a retrieve vehicle,
two at a time.

I think the British method of using a single drum winch in combination
with a retrieve winch to be a very sensible idea - even for long
fields and high launches.

The cable is being retrieved before it even hits the ground. So the
retrieve process is shorter and faster than using a retrieve vehicle
by dragging the entire cable length along the ground. The winch
retrieve should there for also save on wear and tear on the cable as
most of th retrieve occurs in the air after the glider releases.

On very high tows, a long portion of the cable is never wound up into
the tow drum and there for a high altitude launch should actually
reduce the cable retrieve process using a cable retrieve winch. The
light weight of the newer cables makes a launch penalty negligible.
The retrieve cable need not be very strong or even in good shape
anyway, as it's only function is to retrieve the cable.

I like this approach and seems the cheapest way to introduce high
frequency winch operations in the USA. I wish Commercial Glider
Operators would buy a single drum winch and a retrieve winch and offer
this launch method. Even at 10-15 a launch - it's still heaps cheaper
and the operator would probably make more money at the end of the day.

Not to speak about the fact that winch launches a far and away more
fun and exiting than aero tows.